Travel
Historic Plaza San
Francisco unfolds
directly in front of
Casa Gangotena
High Tea and
Original Frescoes
By Karen Catchpole
This elegant
stairway from
the lobby of Casa
Gangotena in
Quito, Ecuador was
part of a five-year
renovation
bling for the interior which is heavily
gold-leafed and is home to the
wooden Virgin of Quito sculpture.
Double pane windows in the hotel
keep out any street noise, though
the muffled bells of the San
Francisco church can still be heard
pleasantly. Rooms are outfitted with
absolutely addictive beds dressed
with creamy sheets. The
hypoallergenic pillows are in the
closet, which has a scented sachet
and a full compliment of hangers.
Bathroom amenities are indulgent
and there are robes and slippers in
his and hers sizes.
The airy, art-filled restaurant at
Casa Gangotena is where a vast and
varied breakfast buffet (included in
room rates) is served as well as all
other meals. It’s tempting to overdo
it, thanks to a spread that includes
delicious local cheeses, freshly baked
bread and pastries, perfect tropical
fruit and juice plus a full menu of
hot items, but save some room for
high tea later in the day.
Guests of Casa Gangotena are
welcomed to free afternoon tea
daily from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tea (or
a cup of Ecuador’s excellent coffee)
is served with a two-tier tower of
bocaditos Quitano (Quito snacks)
like empanadas, along with
international favorites like quiche,
biscuits with cream and jam,
bite-size desserts and more. Served
in a light filled atrium positively
bursting with arrangements of roses
(Ecuador is one of the world’s top
rose producers), high tea at Casa
Gangotena is elegant and bountiful
and you’ll want to linger over it.
Indulgence and elegance aside,
service is also a top priority at Casa
Gangotena. For example, staff will
burn a CD of your digital camera
images for free to clear up card
space so you can take more
photographs during your stay.
Casa Gangotena is one of the best
meldings of a historic renovation
with modern touches, much like
the city of Quito itself.
To Do
Just a few blocks from the hotel
is Casa del Alabado Museum, home
to expertly curated and displayed
Pre-Columbian treasures in a
gorgeously restored home built
in 1671.
Take a break with a traditional hot
chocolate made using Ecuadorian
chocolate at an outdoor table at the
Tianguiz Café on Plaza San Francisco.
Buy a handmade Panama hat (which
originated in Ecuador) from the
venerated Homero Ortega shop.
You’ll need it for the sun which is
extremely strong on the equator.
Casa Gangotena, part of the Kiwi
Collection, was on the 2012 Conde
Nast Traveler Hot List, on the 2012
Travel+Leisure It List, was rated 92
by Andrew Harper and has received a
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
since opening. For more information
and reservations visit
www.casagangotena.com/en/
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